Pilot Cup money ROCKS

COSTA MESA — The Los Angeles Times and Daily Pilot recently donated a share of the proceeds from the annual Pilot Cup youth soccer tournament to the city's after-school program.

The newspapers donated $750 to Recreation on Campus for Kids after School, or ROCKS, which was threatened by a recent round of city budget cuts.

Because the Pilot Cup is sponsored by the newspapers, the city and the school district, The Times and Daily Pilot donate a portion of the proceeds to a public cause after the tournament concludes.

"We are proud to serve the Newport Beach and Costa Mesa communities, and the Pilot Cup is a very special event that brings the community together, creating an often-absent sense of school spirit," said Scott Pompe, senior vice president of Advertising LATMG/general manager Times Community News. "We are committed to making it bigger and better for years to come, which can enable us to give financial proceeds back to the community."

Pompe also praised Pilot Cup organizers Kirk and Sue McIntosh for "their relentless effort to make this a wonderful event and experience for the kids. They are as much the Pilot Cup as we are."

The 11th annual tournament, which features boys and girls in third to sixth grade from public and private schools in the Newport-Mesa area, took place in June at the Farm complex at Costa Mesa High School.

A record 201 teams from 21 public and private schools participated this year. McIntosh estimated after the tournament that some 10,000 children, parents and volunteers participated, played in or watched the tourney.

The next Pilot Cup is set to be played in summer 2011.